Pooch permits

City dog owners upset about $35 fee to take pups to parks

Dog owners are growling about a new measure that will require them to have a permit to unleash their pets in Chicago's sanctioned dog parks.

Cook County's Department of Animal and Rabies Control has said pets within the city's 10 official dog-friendly areas must have a Park District-issued permit that validates the animal's health record.

Enforcement will begin Sept. 15, and fines could be as much as $500.

Applications will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Dr., at a meeting during which owners will learn about the permit. The application requires a veterinarian's signature. The cost is $35 per year with permits for additional dogs costing $15 each.

Dan Parmer of the Department of Animal and Rabies Control for Cook County said the new rule brings Chicago's dog parks in line with existing county guidelines and ensures that dogs do not spread disease.

"We are just making sure we are not creating a circumstance where we are creating a problem for people or dogs," Parmer said. "We want to make sure that everyone who goes into the park has a healthy animal."

The permit would state that the dog has been recently examined by a veterinarian and has received the proper vaccinations.

Dog owners said they are getting the short end of the stick. They said many pet owners already pay for a city license and see this permit as a ploy to generate additional revenue.

"It's the equivalent of having an Illinois driver's license and then saying you have to have one from Cook County," said Dennis Sneyers of Chicago, who frequently takes Daisy, his 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier, to the city's dog parks.

Other Chicago dog owners are barking at the permit's $35 price tag, which is significantly higher than the $10 fee ($5 if the pet is neutered) to register a dog with the city.

How to get one

Applications for dog park permits will be available at the Park District's regional offices at 541 N. Fairbanks Ct., Warren Park, Garfield Park and Kennicott Park, and at dog-friendly locations with a field house.